A magical journey that begins at Hogwarts

If Smaug took the dwarves' home sixty years ago, it means he has lived for at least sixty years, and during those sixty years, his very name has been enough to deter people from approaching him.

This is no ordinary demonic dragon; it is at least at the level of a dragon king.

“You’ve forgotten something: the main gate is sealed off,” Bahrain said. “We can’t get into Lonely Mountain.”

“Bahrain, that’s not entirely true.” Gandalf flicked his fingers, and a jet-black key appeared in his hand.

Thorin stared intently at the key, asking incredulously, "How did you get it?"

“It was given to me by your father. Thorne put me in charge of looking after it. Now it’s yours.”

Thorin put away the key, as if recalling his father, and his eyes welled up with tears.

“If there’s a key, there’s a door,” Philip said.

Gandalf nodded and pointed to the cipher text next to the map. "The runes say there is a secret passage leading to the lower halls."

However, they are hard to find, as the dwarf doors are invisible when closed.

The answer is hidden somewhere on the map, but I can't crack it yet; however, someone in Middle-earth can.

“My planned mission requires secrecy and extraordinary courage,” Gandalf said, glancing at Aaron and Bilbo. “If we are careful, we should be able to succeed.”

"That's why we need thieves," Oli suddenly realized.

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone turned to look at Aaron and Bilbo, leaving the two of them staring at each other in bewilderment.

"Mr. Baggins, you used to be a thief!" Aaron teased. "Excuse me, were you... a professional?"

"I'm not a thief, I've never stolen anything in my life."

"You're not a thief." Aaron frowned, then his eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, you're not asking me to steal something, are you?"

“Perhaps.” Gandalf took a drag of his cigarette. “In my plan, if Bilbo doesn’t go, then you’ll have to be the thief.”

"What the hell!" Aaron rolled his eyes. "Is it appropriate for you to bully a child like this?"

“You are no ordinary child.” Gandalf tapped Aaron’s sleeve with his pipe, and a black wand fell out. “Humans who can use magic are extremely rare, even in Middle-earth. You can count them on one hand.”

"Are you a wizard?" Thorin asked in surprise.

The others looked at him with curiosity, especially Bilbo, who realized that his guest seemed to be hiding some secret.

"Uh...don't look at me like that." Aaron chuckled and waved his hand. "You've misunderstood. I'm not a wizard. I have absolutely nothing to do with wizards."

“Then how do you explain this wand?” Balin asked.

"It's a family heirloom," Aaron replied without hesitation.

"Heh!" Thorin sneered. "We're all quite knowledgeable, but we've never heard of Gaius."

“That’s normal, after all, it’s been passed down for so many generations.” Aaron said, looking at Gandalf with an angry expression. “You know, I can’t use any magic.”

"It's alright, this adventure might just unleash your potential."

Aaron: ......

It’s not over, right?

"But I have never stolen anything."

Even with this kind of experience, how much memory do you think my brain can retain right now?

“That’s why I put you on the bench,” Gandalf said, taking a drag of his cigarette. “It mainly depends on Bilbo.”

"Me?" Bilbo pointed to himself in confusion. "Are you sure you haven't got the wrong person?"

"certainly.

Hobbits are very agile and can appear and disappear without a trace.

Moreover, the dragon is very familiar with the scent of dwarves, but has never smelled the scent of hobbits, which will give us a great advantage.” After Gandalf finished explaining, he looked at Thorin, “You asked me to find the fourteenth member of the expedition, and I chose Mr. Baggins.”

And I took it upon myself to add a fifteenth companion, Aaron Gaius.

They may not look impressive, but the contributions they make will exceed your expectations; you have to believe me.

"Alright!" Thorin nodded slightly. "It's up to you!"

Give them the contract.

Bahrain produced a folded piece of parchment. “It’s just a standard contract, outlining the self-funded portion, the time required, the fee, funeral expenses, and so on.”

The two exchanged a glance and walked to the side to watch.

Contract: Cash on delivery.

If there is a profit, each person may receive a maximum of one-fifteenth.

“That sounds fair,” Bilbo nodded.

“Fair?” Aaron raised an eyebrow. “Thirteen dwarves, you, me, Gandalf… sixteen people, one-fifteenth each.”

Although I'm not very good at math, I know there's a problem with this, and a big problem at that.

Throughout history, countless bloody incidents have been caused by disputes over the division of spoils!

"Yes! It should be one-sixteenth."

"Cash on delivery," Thorin said calmly. "I'm in charge of receiving the goods; I'm not one of the fifteen people."

Furthermore, that's not stolen money; it's our dwarf wealth, and we have the right to take it back.

"Then there's no problem." Aaron smiled and continued reading the rest of the content.

The group will not be liable for any injuries caused or resulting during the expedition, including but not limited to lacerations.

“A laceration?” Bill Borden paused.

"That's normal, after all, it's stealing things right under the dragon's nose."

If you can't dodge Smaug's claws... you'll get a laceration.

Bilbo's eye twitched as he turned to the following: Abdominal organs missing.

"If the claws pierce too deeply, it's normal for them to pull out some organs. If you're lucky enough to witness Smaug's dragon teeth, you might not die so painfully; one bite and it's all over."

But no worries, with the hobbits' skills, dodging the dragon's claws is a piece of cake.

"Haha!" Bilbo's face turned pale. "You're really funny."

"Many people have praised me like that."

"Didn't you have amnesia? You still remember many people?"

“Amnesia can be recovered, but mine is recovering rather slowly,” Alan said confidently.

Bilbo was speechless. He looked at the group's irresponsible final section and couldn't help but swallow hard.

"There were also deaths from burning?"

"At least this... at least you don't have to experience the pain of lacerations and organ loss."

“You’re even more humorous than I thought.” Bilbo placed the Contract in Aaron’s hands, then half-squatted down, supporting himself on his knees with both hands, as if he had just run a marathon, his breathing extremely rapid.

"Are you alright, young man?" Balin asked.

"It's nothing," Bilbo waved his hand and exhaled several times. "I just feel a little dizzy."

“Imagine it as a winged incinerator…” Bofer stood up and gave a brief description.

"I need air."

"In the blink of an eye, you will be reduced to ashes."

Bilbo straightened up, but after a few seconds he could no longer hold on.

"No."

boom!

The hobbit was so frightened that he fainted.

"You guys are really making things worse!" Gandalf said, speechless.

“This is necessary.” Aaron signed his name decisively in the thief section of the contract: Son of Vico Gaius - Aaron Gaius.

"I'm stating the facts; the reality is only much harsher."

Being dizzy now is better than being dizzy when you see a dragon!

“I think so too,” Boff said.

"Come on! You weren't trying to scare anyone, but your description is much more vivid than mine."

"Why aren't you afraid?" Thorin asked.

"This...maybe it's because I have a strong mentality!"

Just kidding, I've witnessed the entire process of dissecting a human body.

The mere dragon is no match for Moore; his specimen room is truly terrifying.

Aaron crouched down, pressing one hand against Bilbo's philtrum and the other against his chest, feeling the heartbeat.

"water."

Gandalf handed Aaron a wine glass. Aaron examined it and couldn't help but twitch his lips. "That's so mean! You're giving me a glass of hot water because you think it won't burn him to death?"

"Sorry, I thought you were going to give him water," Gandalf said apologetically, then poured a glass of cold water.

puff!

Aaron splashed the water directly onto Bilbo's face, and the hobbit's eyes immediately opened, though he seemed not yet to have recovered from the shock.

"You can do this too?" Gandalf asked curiously.

"I know a little; my ancestors were doctors."

“Didn’t you say your ancestors were blacksmiths?” Philip asked.

“No, Philip, he just said that his ancestors were magicians.”

“My great-grandfather was a blacksmith, my great-great-grandfather was a doctor, and my great-great-great-grandfather’s great-uncle was a magician, is that not allowed?”

The two dwarf brothers looked at each other, feeling that something was amiss, but they couldn't quite put their finger on it.

"Gandalf, lend a hand and help Bilbo over to the fireplace."